John Hinckley Jr., the man who attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in 1981, has sent a message to actress Jodie Foster, nearly 45 years after the shooting. Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity in 1982, arguing he was mentally ill and obsessed with Foster and her role in the film “Taxi Driver.”
In a new interview with “The Mark Joseph Show,” set to be released on Wednesday, Hinckley stated, “I just wish Jodie Foster well, you know. I don’t really see her movies, but I wish her well, and I know she’s doing quite well. And that’s all I can say is just, I wish Jodie well, and I hope she has a good life.”
The assassination attempt occurred on March 30, 1981, outside a hotel in Washington, D.C. Hinckley also shot then-press secretary James Brady. Reagan recovered from a punctured lung, but Brady was left permanently disabled and later died in 2014 from his injuries.
Since his unconditional release in 2022, Hinckley has pursued a career as a songwriter. However, many of his scheduled concerts have been canceled due to his notoriety.
Foster has rarely commented on Hinckley. In June 2024, she described the aftermath of the assassination attempt as a "big moment" in her life, particularly after another individual brought a gun to a play in which she was performing.